Intermittent color textile printing machine



Aug. 29, 1933. A. MONICOL ET AL INTERMIT'I'ENT COLOR TEXTILE PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 10, 1931 4 heets-Sheet l 77/0 ZewalrA Inzfenors:

ten/9e 75 at ,fiyfi'for Aug. 29, 1933. A..M NICOL El AL INTERMITTENT COLOR T EXTILE PRINTING MACHINE 4 Shets-Sheet 2 w z .r wwmwwm 6 a m wmmm I! fi Aug. 29, 1933. A. M NICOL ET AL- INTERMITTENT COLOR TEXTILE PRINTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 10, 1931 Inventors: z4ex Zct'co Jud/ecu We 27152206 A G1,. ig)? 3.66m.

Aug. 29, 1933.

A. MCNICOL El AL I IINTERMITTEN'I COLOR TEXTILE PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 10, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I nventom:

Q2323?) a @ori (By fztorne zs. Mm M Patented Aug. 29, I 1933 UNITED STATES INTERMITTENT COLOR TEXTILE PRINT- ING MACHINE Alexander McNicol, Andrew McNicol, and Lewis A. Gill, Jewett City, Conn., and Stephen B. Stafford, Oxford, Mass., assignors to Rice,

Barton & Fales,

Incorporated, .Worcester,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 10, 1931. Serial No. 549,948

' 9 Claims. (01. 101-152) This invention relates to a printing machine of the type employed for printing on fabrics in a number of colors.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a construction in which the various.

printing rolls will be automatically moved into and out of printing position intermittently during each rotation of the machine; to provide simple and convenient means for moving the color printing rolls in this manner; to provide yielding means for forcing the printing rolls into printing position and adjusting means by which they will exert more or less pressure so as to give either a light or heavy shade; to provide a selfcontaining frame with individual impression cyl-.

inders to cooperate with the printing rolls; to provide eccentric bearings for the small cylinders to secure proper adjustment for lining up and fitting the pattern; to provide means for preventing the rolls from getting out of registration sideways; to provide a convenient and simple means for driving the machine and to provide means for preventing undue vibration as the individual printing rolls are moved in and out.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end view of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention showing parts of the machine ready for printing and the rest of it with the color rolls dismantled.

Fig.2 is a side elevation showing only apart of the rolls and cylinders;

Fig. 3 is a diametricLal sectional view of one of the cam wheels and the flanged wheels which it operates; Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of one of the cam wheels showing it in detail;

Fig. 5 is a face View of .a' cam wheel showing positions in which the cams may be placed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the cam;

Fig. 7 is a front view on enlarged scale of one of the nips and adjusting devices, with parts in section, and showing the color roll in printing position;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the 0010 roll lifted out of printing position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. '7 'and 8 show- 'ing the adjustment'and supporting means for one of the impression cylinders, and

Fig. 10 is a sectional'view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9. r

' The invention is shown as applied to amaare supported by a self contained frame 10. On the inside of the frame 10 are carried two frames 37, provided with slots 11 forvertical adjustment of the bearings 34 of the impression cylinder 33 thus increasing the range or circumference of the design to be printed. The machine is driven by a motor 13 which, through a chain and sprocket wheel 14 drives a shaft 15. On this shaft is a pinion 16 driving an intermediate gear 17 fixed on the shaft 12. The bearings 18 for this shaft can be adjusted by screws 19 in the slots or guideways 9.

Around the gear 17 are a series of small gears or pinions 20 each mounted on a mandrel 21 on which is located an intaglio or engraved color roll 22. This machine is adapted to employ any desired number of these color rolls up to the limit of the capacity of the machine. 7

Each shaft or mandrel 21 is mounted in bearings on a pair of slides 23 operated in radial ways 24. Each slide is connected by a screw 25 with a fixed radial arm 26 on the frame 10. Each screw passes through a nut 27 which has a head at one end and a screw thread at the other.

In the arm 26 is an opening 28 for receiving this nut and also for receiving a spring 29 bearing at one end on a shoulder in the opening and at the other end on the underside of the head of the nut 2'7. The roll 22 therefore is pressed inwardly by this spring at all times. It can be adjusted outwardly by a nut and check-nut 30 on the thread on the nut 2'? which passes freely through the opening. The nuts 30 come up against the end of the arm 26. The end of the screw 25 is provided with a" perforation 31 for engagement by a spanner or the like to turn the screw for adjustment. Thus the nip is yielding but the pressure is adjustable for strong and light shades.

For printing purposes a series of small cylinders 33 are used preferably, each one mounted 1 in eccentric cylinder bearings 34; These bearings are held by screws 35, each one in a nut 36 carried 'by a bracket 37 on the frame 10. This screw is adjustable in the same way as the screw 25 and a nut and check-nut 38 are employed so that the cylinders 33 can be adiusted out and into the desired distance; The eccentric bearing is provided on each end so that the cylinderv maybe brought to'the proper radial position to'contact properly with the roll 22.

It will be understood that the screws 35 are cure of the springs 29 will force the rolls against the cylinders. The pressure exerted can be regulated by the adjustment of the screws 35. This provides forgiving a print in either a light or heavy shade. Each roll is adjusted independently so that the shades of the different colors can all be regulated in a very simple and convenient manner.

In operation, the rolls are forced against the cylinders by spring pressure, as stated. On each end of each steel mandrel 21 is mounted a small flanged cam wheel 40. This cam wheel is arranged on the different mandrels at different distances from the frame. Fixed on the shaft 12 are a pair of large cam wheels 41. Each, of these cam wheels is provided with a plurality of tracks. These tracks have raised portions 42 and depressions between the raised portions. As the large cam wheels rotate, the raised tracks engage their respective small cam wheels on the mandrels and the respective. color rollers 22 are pushed away from the goods while the raised portion of the track is in registration with the wheels, thus preventing any printing from that roll. These spaces during which the respective rolls do notprint are of any desired length, depending on the repeat of the pattern. When the run of the track has been reached, the printing roll slides into position against the goods and is pressed by its spring with the desired degree of pressure. The cam tracks compress ,the springs in each nip in turn and this provides intermittent printing. The flanges on the cam wheels keep the wheels running evenly on the-cam tracks.

It will be understood that the cam wheels 41 are provided with separate sets of tracks, one for each wheel 40 and the two cam wheels are duplicates of each other. The spaces between the tracks on-the large wheel 41 provide the desired length of pattern to be printed. Likewise the length of the tracks provides the space between the printing or repeat of the pattern.

It will be seen that combinations of any numbers of colors can be used at the top and bottom, with additional colors being printed in between.

Where designs are to be printed only at the top and bottom, gum rolls are used only on the bottom or top which will help to retain the goods on the cylinders. Light or heavy goods, such as rugs, curtains, bed" spreads, etc., can be printed in large repeat patterns and repeat drapery lengths can be printed also.

Instead of the plurality of small cylinders 33, the same arrangement can be used otherwise with a single large cylinder or bowl of the usual type I carried loosely on the shaft 12.

It'will be understood, of course, that between the cylinders 33 and 22 around the circumference of the machine, the cloth to be printed is passed and under it and between it and the impression cylinders 33 is a blanket 45. Any usual color boxes and inking mechanism are provided, it being preferred that they travel. with their respective color rolls 22, when such rolls move to and from the goods.

Each color roll 22 (Fig. 1') is provided with the usual doctor 50, pivotally mounted at 51 and provided withan arm 52 to which a weight W is attached by a cord or cable 53, which passes around one or more suitable guide-pulleys 54.

As the color roll 22 is moved toward and rom printing position, the weight W is likewise raised and lowered. In order to prevent the inertia of the weight from objectionably varying the pressure of the doctor against the color roll, we have provided a spring 55 in each cord or cable 53, which relieves the direct transmission of the inertia of the weight to the doctor as the color roll reaches printing position. Consequently, the doctor operates uniformly as in the usual stationary construction.

It will be seen therefore that intermittent designs can be printed in any number of colors or color combinations, the design can be made a multiple of the drapery length and can be printed at the top and bottom. The space between the printed designs can be printed in with any other design desired. The small cam wheels 40 can be removed very easily and the printing thus turned over to straight or regular work.

Although we have illustrated and described only one'form of the invention, we are aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any. person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, we do not wish to be limited in this respect otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we do claim is:-

1. In a color printing machine, the combination of a series of color rolls arranged in the arc of a circle, impression surfaces arranged to engage them, a rotary shaft, means on said shaft for moving the rolls back, one by one intermittently, when it is desired to print intermittent designs, and yielding means for forcing said rolls into contact with the impression surfaces.

.2. In a color printing machine, the combination of a series of color rolls arranged in the arc of a circle, impression surfaces arranged to engage them, a rotary shaft, means on said shaft for moving the rolls back, one by one intermittently, when it is desired to print intermittent de signs, yielding means for forcing said rolls into contact with the impression surfaces, and means for adjusting the pressure exerted by the yielding means to provide for printing light and heavy shades.

3. In a color printing machine, the combination of a frame, a shaft on the frame, a series of color printing rolls arranged on the frame in the arc of a circle, said rolls being mounted in radially slidable bearings, springs for pressing them toward printing position, the shaft of each roll having a wheel thereon, and a pair of cams on said shaft having tracks thereon, one for each wheel, which the wheels are adapted to engage for the purpose of pushing the rolls away from printing position intermittently.

4. In a color printing machine, the combination with a frame having radial slots and guides therein, of a shaft, bearings for the shaft movable in said slots, means for adjusting said bearings along the slot, a second shaft, means for driving the second shaft, a pinion on the second shaft, an intermediate gear on the first shaft adapted to mesh with the pinion to be driven thereby, a series of color rolls arranged around the gear, pinions mounted on the shafts of the color rolls and meshing with said gear to be rotated thereby, yielding means for forcing each color roll into printing position and a pair of circular cams carried at opposite ends by said shaft and having tracks thereon for intermittently pushing th color rolls out of printing position.

5. In a color printing machine, the combinat on with a frame having radial slots and guides therein, of a shaft, bearings for the shaft movable in said slots, means for adjusting said bear-'- ings along the slot, a gear on the shaft, a series of color rolls arranged around the gear, pinions mounted on the shafts of the color rolls and meshing with said gear to be rotated thereby, yielding means for forcing each color roll into printing position and a cam carried by said shaft and having tracks thereon for intermittently-pushing the color rolls out of printing position intermittently.

6. In a color printing machine, the combina tion of a frame, a shaft on the frame, a series of color printing rolls arranged on the frame in the arc of a circle, the shaft of each, roll having a wheel, and a pinion thereon, a central gear meshing with said pinions for driving said rolls, and a cam on said shaft having tracks thereon, one for each wheel, which the wheels are adapted to engage for the purpose of pushing the rolls away from printing positions intermittently, without bringing the pinions out of mesh with the gear.

7. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing roll and an impression cylinder, of means for adjusting the printing roll toward and from the cylinder, and eccentric bearings in which the impression cylinder is mounted for adjusting the cylinder laterally and circumferentially, said eccentric bearing being provided with means for adjusting it as a whole radially.

8. In a printing machine, the combination with an impression cylinder and means for adjusting it radially and laterally, of a printing roll, means for yieldingly forcing the printing roll toward the impression cylinder, and means for adjustingthe pressure of the printing roll on the impression cylinder to control the shade of the impression.

9. In a printing machine, the combination with an impression cylinder and means for adjusting it radially and laterally, of a printing roll, means for moving the printing roll intermittently into and out of contact with the impression cylinder, means for yieldingly forcing the printing roll toward the impression cylinder, and means for adjusting the pressure of the printing roll on the impression cylinder to control the shade of the impression.

ALEX. McNICOL.

ANDREW MCNICOL.

LEWIS A. GILL.

, STEPHEN B. STAFFORD. 

